RE:RE:AIM.pr.A & AIM.pr.BAs of today's close, the As and Cs appear to be priced about right, relative to each other.
Since the release of the Air Canada news, some institutions have been buying the preferreds.
With price discovery in the hands of professionals, the different securities will be priced more rationally.
A vs C comparison
Max upside price is the same - $25 in the case of a takeover, hostile or otherwise.
The prefC will reset in two years (April 2019).
Until then the dividend is 6.25%, based on $25 par, $1.5625 per year, $3.125 prior to reset
During the same timeframe, the C dividend is $1.0625 per year (4.25%), $2.125 prior to the C reset.
So, until the prefC resets, you will receive exactly $1.00 more in dividends.
After reset, assuming today's interest rates, the differential will be (0.65 * .25) = $0.1625 per year, based on the current 5 yr Government of Canada yield of 0.95%.
Even if you pay upfront the full differential for the next 2 years (and dividends are taxable for individual non-registered accounts), the prefC would be priced only $1 higher than the prefA.
The $3 + differential between the A and C preferreds that existed one month ago was ludicrous.